Apparatus for arranging sheets of paper in predetermined order in sets

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for grouping sheets of paper in predetermined order in sets. The sheets of paper are placed standing on edge in individual packs on shelves, each pack containing sheets with identical text, etc., with the packs being disposed in succession in the order in which the individual papers in each set are to be assembled. An engagement device feeds the top paper in each pack upwards so that it goes free from a flap and then releases the paper so that it may slide down over the flap and through a channel to a receptacle.

United States Patent 11 1 Kronsved APPARATUS FOR ARRANGING SHEETS OF PAPER IN PREDETERMINED ORDER IN SETS [75] Inventor:

Julius Kronsved, Hagersten. Sweden Assignee: Guternic AB, Johanneshov, Sweden Filed: Mar. 22, 1973 Appl. No.: 343,990

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 23. 1972 Sweden .1 3799/72 Jan. 23, 1973 Hungary 1136 US. Cl. 270/58 Int. Cl. B65H 39/04 Field of Search 270/58, 12, 45; 271/129,

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS McKune 270/58 [451 Nov. 18, 1975 6/1960 Mestre 270/58 12/1970 Porth 270/58 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant ExaminerA. Heinz Attorney. Agent, or Firm-Sughrue, Rothwell. Mion, Zinn & Macpeak ABSTRACT Apparatus for grouping sheets of paper in predetermined order in sets The sheets of paper are placed standing on edge in individual packs on shelves, each pack containing sheets with identical text, etc, with the packs being disposed in succession in the order in which the individual papers in each set are to be assembledi An engagement device feeds the top paper in each pack upwards so that it goes free from a flap and then releases the paper so that it may slide down over the flap and through a channel to a receptacle.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 2 of 2 3,920,236

APPARATUS FOR ARRANGING SHEETS OF PAPER IN PREDETERMINED ORDER IN SETS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various types of apparatus have become known for arranging sheets of paper in predetermined order in sets. However, all of these known devices have drawbacks. For example, in one machine of known type, human intervention is required for manually assembling the relevant sets of sheets. and therefore such machine can not be considered as an automatically oper ated one. It has the substantial drawback that it requires great physical effort on the part of the operator, as the latter is obliged to withdraw individual sheets from packs of paper arranged in succession while using a tool provided with an adhesive roller or disc and to convey the sets thus assembled to a vibrating device. Unfortunately, it is not possible to be absolutely certain that the individual sheets in each set are arranged in correct order in this case. Hence. in addition to the great physical force that has to be applied in the mentioned apparatus the disadvantage also occurs that sheets may be missing from the individual sets of paper or that duplicates of sheets may be present in a set.

Another known type of paper grouping machine operates automatically. However, these machines are bulky and of elaborate structure and in addition they are very expensive. Moreover, these machines do not permit new paper to be supplied during operation of the machine, and therefore, when the paper supply is exhausted, the operation of the machine has to be stopped so that the shelves carrying the paper may be reloaded. This results in a considerable production loss in the machine.

It is a common drawback of the known devices of this type that the paper may crumple, with the consequence that either the sets of paper are damaged or the attractiveness of the sets of paper is impaired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention refers to apparatus for arranging sheets of paper in sets and specifically for arranging the individual sheets in predetermined order in each of said sets. For example, the apparatus according to the invention may be utilized for assembling mimeographed sheets and for forming booklets.

The object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of the above-mentioned type that is simple in its structure and inexpensive in its construction and operation and furthermore is not bulky. Despite its simplicity and low cost, the apparatus or machine of the invention has the capability of grouping the paper sheets in a precise manner without inflicting any damage on them. All manual intervention may be fully eliminated by utilizing the apparatus according to the invention, i.e. the apparatus of the invention operates entirely automatically.

It is an important and very advantageous feature of the apparatus according to the present invention that it is possible to supply new paper to the shelves of the apparatus during operation without interrupting its operation.

The apparatus of the invention includes mechanically operated paper-sliding means which are provided with adhesive rubber for engaging the outermost sheet of each pack or stock of paper, said means in their lower end positions being removed from the outermost sheets of paper that have been pushed up previously. with said outermost sheets ofpaper, which are separated in a lifting operation, being allowed to slide down between said papensliding means and the remaining stocks of paper which are retained in their previous positions, re spectively. The released sheets of paper are forwarded in a channel system to individual positions corresponding to their original order of succession and conveyed to a collecting device. Separating the outermost sheets of the stocks of paper from the other sheets is promoted by flaps disposed at the bottoms of the shelves carrying the stocks of paper, said flaps being opened and closed, respectively, in controlled manner. They snap back against the remaining sheets in the stocks of paper when the outermost sheet in each stock has been fed upwards. The outermost sheets are prevented from clinging to the the remainder of the sheets by the air stream caused by the fanning motion of the flaps, whereby the downwardly sliding sheets in essence will be guided into the channels serving to convey them to the collecting device.

A separate means in the form of a rack ensures that when said paper-sliding means are disposed in their lower positions their upper ends that are provided with adhesive rubber will be displaced out of the spacing between the shelves and partitions serving to hold the stocks of paper, thus enabling unobstructed reloading of said shelves.

The features of the invention are more specifically set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A specific embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention will be described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. I is an elevation of the apparatus according to the invention with partially removed covers, FIG. 2 is a side elevation as viewed from the left with regard to FIG. I, and FIG. 3 shows a part ofa side elevation looking from the right as referred to FIG. 1 but with the apparatus in a different operating position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As may be seen in the figures, the apparatus is mounted on a frame 28, the rigidity of which is in creased by the use of connecting rods 37. A gear casing 23 is fixed to the frame 28, and an electric motor 36 and a disc 39 driven thereby are disposed in said gear casing. On the gear casing 23 there are mounted additionally a switch 24 and a connecting cord 25 provided with a plug, as well as an adjusting rail or bar 38, the latter serving to connect the electric conductors.

One end of an eccentric arm 35 is eccentrieally connected to the disc 39, whereas its other end is connected to a pivot system formed by parallel arms 15 connected to each other over band-like plates 29, said pivot arms 49 being articulated to the ends of one of said parallel arms. The pivot arms 49 are mounted pivotally around fixed links. The bolts at the ends of the upper parallel arm 15 protrude through front and rear arcuate slots 8 and 16, respectively, formed in a side plate 17.

Extension arms 21 engage the lower one of the parallel arms I5 over rollers, whereas the paper-sliding means 4 are connected to the upper parallel arm. As may be seen in FIG. 2 the upper ends of the paper-sliding means 4 are provided with adhesive rubber 18 secured in position by spacers 19. In the embodiment now being described by way of example the paper-sliding means are shaped generally in the form of a frame. with the side legs of said frame being disposed outside the shelves for supporting the stocks of paper.

The upper ends of the paper-sliding means 4 extend above the shelves and between the partitions 3. The individual paper sheets 11 which together form each stock of paper may be disposed on the shelves in such manner that each shelf carries paper sheets that have for example the same page number, whereas the individual stocks of paper are placed in the sequence of the page numbers in the succession of shelves. in addition to being confined by the partitions 3, the shelves are enclosed by side covers l2.

Baffles 14 extend downwardly from the lower ends of the partitions 3, with substantially one baffle being located between each pair of partitions. Said baffles 14 form channels 13 for guiding the papers that are separated from the stock of paper located on each individual shelf towards a box or container 41 for receiving the papers grouped in order. An upper rack l and a lower rack 2 are disposed outside the shelves that are located between the partitions 3. The upper rack 1 serves to displace the upper ends of the paper-sliding means 4 from the stocks of paper in the shelves when said paper-sliding means are in their lower end positions. On the other hand, the lower rack 2 serves to hold the flaps that are pivotally attached to the portions of the shelves remote to the partitions 3 in their open position against the force of retracting springs 22. End springs 9 are connected to the lower rack and retain the same in its position for holding the flaps 10. In addition, an actuating electromagnet 6 is connected to the lower rack and is controlled by a flap switch 47 rotating with the disc 39 and suitably actuated by a coupling section 48 mounted on the periphery of the disc. The channels 13 between the baffles 14, which latter taper downwardly when viewed as a unit, terminate in the space between an arcuate baffle 32 and the outermost baffle [4 remote thereto, said space being closed from below by a driven rubber roller 30 and a roller 3] engaging the same. A box 41, suitably in sloping position. is disposed below the rubber roller 30 and the associated roller 31 and is attached to a vibrator 42 of a type known per se.

A swivel housing 43 is mounted below the box 41. The swivel housing serves to rotate the individual sets of sorted papers 90 relative to each other. and thus the paper sets 46 shown in FIG. 2 become very well distinguishable.

Discs 34 of V-belt type are driven by the electric motor 36, and one of said discs drives a disc 45 over a V-belt 33, with the latter disc cooperating with an arm 44 which provides a 90 bidirectional rotational motion of the swivel housing 43 and the paper-collecting box 41 by engaging a fixed attachment on the bottom of swivel housing 43 in a manner known per se for altering a 360 rotational movement to a 90 one. Said arm 44 in turn engages the vibrator 42. The vibrator 42 may preferably be of the rubber block type.

The side plates 17, side walls 40, a top cover plate 27 and a front cover form the casing of the apparatus.

The method of operation of the apparatus according to the invention is as follows:

The stocks of paper are placed on the shelves between the partitions 3 in such manner that each endividual shelf supports papers ll having the same page number or identical text or drawings, etc., with the papers disposed on each shelf also resting against the corresponding partition. After the stocks of paper have been placed in the apparatus as mentioned, the apparatus is connected to the electric mains over the connecting cord 25 which is provided with a plug, whereafter the electric motor 36 is started by means of the switch 24.

When the eccentric arm 35 that is linked to disc 39 which in turn is driven by the motor moves upwards, the pivot arms 49 will turn in the direction of the arrow 26', and the parallel arms 15 articulated therewith will move upwardly as well as in the arcuate path defined by the slots 8, 16. At the beginning of a movement in this sense. the flaps 10 are in a nearly vertical position which is ensured by the lower rack 2, with the upper ends of the flaps 10 being engaged behind the teeth of the lower rack 2 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

During the upward movement of the parallel arms 15 the paper-sliding means 4 are pushed upwardly, and when the adhesive rubber 18 at the upper ends thereof engages the stocks of paper located on the shelves between the partitions 3, the outermost sheet of paper 11 in each stock of paper will be shifted upwardly relative to the position of the remainer of the papers in each stock of paper due to friction. Simultaneously with the upward movement of the paper-sliding means as referred to above, the lower ends of the extension arms 21 supported by the parallel arms 15 are pushed upwardly, and as the result of this the extension arms 21 as viewed in FIG. I will turn clockwise around the suspension pivots near to the lower parts of the partitions 3. At the same time the upper ends of the extension arms 21 move downwardly and go clear from the flaps 10 whose positions are fixed by the teeth of the lower rack 2.

When the paper-sliding means 4 arrive at their upper end positions or close thereto, the coupling section 48 engages the flap switch 47, and a pulse of current is generated in the electromagnet 6 as the result of the actuation of said switch. With the electromagnet 6 being actuated, the lower rack 2 will be displaced against the force of the end springs 9 so that the flaps l0 no longer engage the teeth of the rack. With said flaps 10 thus released and therefore not being supported by the upper ends of the extension arms 2| they strike the remaining portions of the stocks of paper on the shelves as the result of the force of the retracting springs 22. The upper edges of the flaps 10 are near to the lower parts of the raised papers 11, and the air current that arises as a consequence of the impact as referred to above is thus sufficient to slightly lift the lower portion of the papers ll that are being removed and to separate them in this manner from the remaining portion of the stocks of papers.

After the ope ration as described above, the eccentric arm 35 moves downwardly as the result of the disc 39 turning additionally, and the pivot arms 49 turn correspondingly in the direction of the arrow 50. Due to this movement, the parallel arms 15 also move downwardly. Furthermore, during this movement the previously raised or lifted papers 11 are drawn downwardly by the paper-sliding means 4 with the assistance of the adhesive rubber l8, and thereafter the papers slip downwardly and can slide on the upper sides of the flaps N) that are inclined with respect to the stationary stock of paper, with the lifted papers ll sliding down in the channels 13 between the baffles l4. in this phase of operation. ie when the parallel arms 15 are moving downwardly. the coupling section 48 passes the flap switch 47 so that the electromagnet 6 is deactuatcd, and thus the lower rack is retracted to its original posi' tion by the end springs 9 simultaneously with the armature of the electromagnet 6 being retracted into its outof-operation position by the springs 5. During the downward movement of the parallel arms 15 the extension arms 21. which are supported by the lower arm, turn counter-clockwise, thereby lifting the flaps 10 with their upper ends. When the flaps 10 move in this sense, the papers 11 are already sufficiently directed to the channels 13.

When the parallel arms 15 arrive near to their lower outer positions. the upper horizontal legs of the papersliding means 4 engage the sloping tooth sides of the upper rack l and are guided by the tooth sides to the lowermost part of the tooth groove as shown in FIG. 3. With the paper-sliding means 4 in this position, the shelves between the partitions 3 become available, and thus it is possible to refill them from above with a new stock of paper.

Until the parallel arms 15 attain their lower outer position in their downward movement, the extension arms 21 lift the flaps 10 with their upper ends to such extent that their upper edges engage the teeth of the lower rack 2.

As the result of the rotation of the disc 39 driven by the motor 36 the cycle is repeated in the same manner as described in the foregoing. The paper sheets sliding in the channels 13 arrive at the lower ends of the channels on top of each other in the desired order of succession and are there conveyed between the rubber roller 30 and the roller 31 into the box 41. The paper sheets are thereafter vibrated into order in the box 41 by means of the vibrator 42, and the individual sets of paper are turned 90 relative to each other by the swivel means, resulting in the sorted paper sets 46.

As may be appreciated on the basis of the structure described above by way of example and on the basis of the foregoing relating to the operation of the apparatus it is possible to achieve very rapid and continuous operation by the use of simple means without making use of manpower, i.e. eliminating any physical intervention of the operators. Also, it should be clear from the above description that refilling can be carried out without interrupting the operation of the apparatus.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically arranging sheets of paper in perdetermined order predetermined sets, comprising:

a. a plurality of substantially horizontal shelves for individually supporting a plurality of different stocks of paper standing on edge, each of said stocks comprising identical papers, said stocks being disposed in the same order as the desired order of the sheets of paper in sets,

b. a plurality of partitions (3) individually associated with the shelves and disposed substantially at right angles thereto in engagement with a longitudinal edge thereof, with a gap being formed between the free end of each shelf and the adjacent partition,

0. a plurality of paper-sliding means (4) for individually engaging the top sheet of paper in each stock 6 and extending above the shelves and between said partitions and being displaceable between a lower and an upper position, .a plurality of flaps l0) pivoted at their lower ends and extending across one of said shelves to one of said partitions,

e. a plurality of springs (22) for individually engaging said flaps and urging them against said partitions, a plurality of pivotal extension arms (21) for individually engaging said flaps for releasing the papersliding means when the latter reach their upper positions, in opposition to the action of said springs.

g. a pair of parallel arms (l5) connected to each other and to two arcuately displaceable arms (49) for providing said parallel arms with an arcuate. substantially vertical motion. thereby causing said paper-sliding means to feed the top sheet of paper in each stock upwards,

h. a lower rack (2),

i. an upper rack (l) rigidly connected to said lower rack,

j. toothing on the face of said lower rack opposite to the upper end of said flaps for engaging the flaps and holding them away from the partitions to enable said stocks of paper to be disposed on the shelves and for permitting the top sheet of paper in each stock to be fed upwards by said paper-sliding means without frictional restraint between the flaps and the paper,

k. toothing on the face of said upper rack for engaging the upper ends of the paper-sliding means when said parallel arms are in such a position that said paper-sliding means are in their lowermost positions and out of engagement with the stocks of paper,

1. a plurality of baffles (14) forming a plurality of individual paper-conveying channels (13) and extending downwardly from the lower ends of said partitions, with substantially one baffle being located between each pair of partitions, and

m. an electromagnet (6) for actuating said lower and upper racks when the paper-sliding means reach their uppermost positions for permitting said flaps to be actuated by said springs so that said top sheets of paper when released by said paper-sliding means will slide downwards over said flaps with one sheet between each pair of baffles and will be arranged in said predetermined order in sets.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said paper-sliding means comprises a frame having an upper leg and side legs outside of said shelves and being provided with adhesive rubber on the upper leg.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim I, further comprising a motor, a disc driven by the motor, and an eccentric arm coupled between the disc and the parallel arms.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, further comprising a flap switch connected in circuit with said electromagnet and controlled by a coupling section of the disc.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein swivel means are provided for turning subsequent sets of paper relative to each other. 

1. Apparatus for automatically arranging sheets of paper in perdetermined order predetermined sets, comprising: a. a plurality of substantially horizontal shelves for individually supporting a plurality of different stocks of paper standing on edge, each of said stocks comprising identical papers, said stocks being disposed in the same order as the desired order of the sheets of paper in sets, b. a plurality of partitions (3) individually associated with the shelves and disposed substantially at right angles thereto in engagement with a longitudinal edge thereof, with a gap being formed between the free end of each shelf and the adjacent partition, c. a plurality of paper-sliding means (4) for individually engaging the top sheet of paper in each stock and extending above the shelves and between said partitions and being displaceable between a lower and an upper position, d. a plurality of flaps (10) pivoted at their lower ends and extending across one of said shelves to one of said partitions, e. a plurality of springs (22) for individually engaging said flaps and urging them against said partitions, f. a plurality of pivotal extension arms (21) for individually engaging said flaps for releasing the paper-sliding means when the latter reach their upper positions, in opposition to the action of said springs, g. a pair of parallel arms (15) connected to each other and to two arcuately displaceable arms (49) for providing said parallel arms with an arcuate, substantially vertical motion, thereby causing said paper-sliding means to feed the top sheet of paper in each stock upwards, h. a lower rack (2), i. an upper rack (1) rigidly connected to said lower rack, j. toothing on the face of said lower rack opposite to the upper end of said flaps for engaging the flaps and holding them away from the partitions to enable said stocks of paper to be disposed on the shelves and for permitting the top sheet of paper in each stock to be fed upwards by said paper-sliding means without frictional restraint between the flaps and the paper, k. toothing on the face of said upper rack for engaging the upper ends of the paper-sliding means when said parallel arms are in such a position that said paper-sliding means are in their lowermost positions and out of engagement with the stocks of paper,
 1. a plurality of baffles (14) forming a plurality of individual paper-conveying channels (13) and extending downwardly from the lower ends of said partitions, with substantially one baffle being located between each pair of partitions, and m. an electromagnet (6) for actuating said lower and upper racks when the paper-sliding means reach their uppermost positions for permitting said flaps to be actuated by said springs so that said top sheets of paper when released by said papersliding means will slide downwards over said flaps with one sheet between each pair of baffles and will be arranged in said predetermined order in sets.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said paper-sliding means comprises a frame having an upper leg and side legs outside of said shelves and being provided with adhesive rubber on the upper leg.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a motor, a disc driven by the motor, and an eccentric arm coupled between the disc and the parallel arms.
 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, further comprising a flap switch connected in circuit with said electromagnet and controlled by a coupling section of the disc.
 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein swivel means are provided for turning subsequent sets of paper 90* relative to each other. 